SILVERDALE - Kericho Corry seems to be everywhere and doing everything on the campus at Central Kitsap High School. The most obvious place to spot Kericho (pronounced Ka-ree-ko) is on the basketball court, where the 6-foot-3 senior plays in the post for the Cougars and averages nine points and eight rebounds a game.

But he's involved in more than just basketball.

Corry is the ASB vice-president of the school; he's one of the driving forces of The WEB, a club that promotes awareness against harassment and bullying in the schools and has brought it to the attention of lawmakers in the state capital; he's in the Key Club, where he's responsible for different service projects within the school and has been recognized for his achievements; and he's in the theatre, performing in school productions.

He also teaches Sunday school at New Life Church in Silverdale and has a part time job at the YMCA.

All that, and he has a 3.2 GPA in his classes.

"He's service oriented, service minded, charitable, and likes helping others," said his mother, Sharlene Harrigan.

So how does he do it?

"Trying to balance it is a struggle," she said. "Sometimes, he's up all night, but he's able to do it."

It's all a matter of time management.

"You have to know what's more important, and put equal time in all things," Corry said. "I don't want to be involved unless I put my full effort into it. I want to focus on things that I am passionate about."

One of the things he is passionate about is basketball. The Cougars open the Class 4A West Central/Southwest District tournament tonight at home against Mount Rainier. Corry plays inside now, but played guard for most of his life through junior high and with his club team, Total Package Basketball.

When he got to CK, coach Scott McMinds needed Corry in the post to give his team some height, as well as an inside presence.

"He's an unselfish big man," McMinds said. "Ask him who is favorite player is, and he'll say Kobe Bryant. Ask him where he wants to play, he'll say to shoot threes along the perimeter. It's all about sacrifice for him to play the post. He's changed from what he thinks is his game to what is our game.

"There (are) not a lot of people who could do what he did. His sacrifice is part of his ability to play where we need him to play."

Corry was OK with the move to the frontcourt.

"You have to do what you have to do for the team," he said. "CK had no big guy, so I did it for the team and made the sacrifice."

Corry can still be seen directing his teammates in the paint like a point guard. He provides a lot of energy in the middle, clogging up the lanes on the defense and directing the action on offense

"Being up front, I can tell everyone where to go, and see where everyone is at," he said.

He also likes the addition of former Bremerton High School coach Casey Lindberg to the CK coaching staff as a volunteer assistant. Lindberg coached for 10 years at Bremerton, taking two teams to the state tournament and has coached the likes of Miah Davis, Jarell Flora and, of course, Marvin Williams, now of the Atlanta Hawks.

"To come from being a head coach to being a volunteer shows how much of a great guy he is," Corry said. "Coming to our team, that inspires me."

Off the court, Corry is involved in practically everything in school.

As a member of the Key Club, where he was named lieutant governor of the local chapter, he oversees the work of other chapters in other schools. He has had over 136 hours of community service, resulting in being a recipient of a Distinguished Service Award.

Corry also has been involved with the theatre club, playing key roles in CK's productions. Earlier this school year, Corry was in "The Guys," a play about the aftermath of the World Trade Center bombings as part of the school's memorial tribute for September 11. Corry played the role of a fire department captain eulogizing his fellow firefighters with the help of a reporter.

His most visible work in school is with The WEB, which stands for "Where Everyone Belongs." The club is for making people aware of and putting an end to bullying and harassment in the schools.

"I want to make people aware and understand that bullying and harassment in schools is not acceptable," Corry said.

That has lead to another project, called "Living the Dream."

Corry, along with WEB club members, have gone to other schools and interviewed students who have been harassed and bullied, and recorded those interviews for a video presentation. The video has been shown to other students and the superintendent of the CK schools, as well as Erin Jones, the assistant superintendent of public schools for the state of Washington.

Corry's efforts led to him being awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the Kitsap County Commissioner's Office.

Another presentation of the video will be made to the youth leaders later this school year in Olympia.

Of course, that will have to wait until the basketball season ends, and Corry's hoping that won't happen anytime soon.

"We want to make it far," he said. "Our team is confident. We just have to play team defense."

Corry has been accepted by Western Washington, Pacific Lutheran and Seattle Pacific, but also has scholarship offers from other universities. Whichever college gets him will land not only a quality player, but also an excellent student and citizen who has represented his school and the Silverdale community well.

"He's a Cougar through and through," McMinds said. "He bleeds orange and black."

This story first appeared in The Sports Paper Weekly, which publishes on Thursdays. Call 360-792-9200 to subscribe.